Salvation 2.0: Part 3.6: Separation from God

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Jay F Guin

grace5Now, many a theologian has argued that hell is separation from God, and I think that’s part of the punishment. Maybe all. Speaking of the damned, Paul writes,

(2Th 1:9-10 ESV)  9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

We were born and have lived our days in God’s presence, even if we haven’t always been believers. God is present within his Creation, and surely his presence is part of the joy of life.

And so we have no idea of what it would be like to live apart from God — truly separate. It’s not possible in this world, although we can certainly turn our backs on him. We can. But we can’t entirely escape God’s presence. God will still bring rain on the just and the unjust.

Hell may well be utter separation from God. We have no concept of how horrible that would be — but Paul warns us that it’s a dreadful punishment to suffer. Indeed, I’m certain that many of those who suffer such a horrible fate will beg for destruction.

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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3 Responses to Salvation 2.0: Part 3.6: Separation from God

  1. Chris says:
    October 5, 2015 at 9:36 am

    Jay, imagine the mental pain and suffering that accompanies the loss of a loved one or the pain of separation or divorce, and magnify/multiply that to whatever ultimate degree and I would think one may have just have a snippet of what it may be like. To add to it, there will be no one to turn to for comfort, no family, no children, no neighbor and certainly no God. Plus, whatever longing for God that he has locked within our DNA and being, and that going unsatisfied. It’s not something that a mind can fathom and it’s too difficult to ever dwell on for more than just a few seconds.

  2. Jay Guin says:
    October 5, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Chris,

    Very well said.

  3. Richard constant says:
    October 7, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    J on that day of judgement just how long is that day of God lives outside of time…
    I wonder if it it is going to be as long as it was for God as it was for Jesus when he was on the cross and separated from his one and only partner for eternity.
    Think on that awhile

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